Advances In Non-Opioid Options For Post-Operative Pain Management

In a statement last August, departing FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb outlined several steps the agency had planned to further address the opioid crisis. Part of that approach, he wrote, includes supporting development of non-opioid, non-addictive alternatives for acute and chronic pain.

The FDA plans to outline a path for developing extended-release local anesthetics, which can serve as an alternative to fast-acting oral opioids. FDA also plans to issue guidance to assist drug sponsors with developing new non-opioid medications for chronic pain.

In line with FDA’s plans, research groups, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and medical device manufacturers have increased efforts to develop non-opioid treatments for acute and chronic pain.

As companies continue to develop new solutions to treat chronic and acute pain, they face huge scientific, project management, and public health hurdles. Pharma and biopharma companies must develop new, fast-acting, long-lasting formulas that control pain without addiction, secure venture funding for these drugs, and recruit patients willing to give up what’s proven to work for something that may or may not.